Folkestone Nepalese Community

FNC Football Tournament 2026

After 12 years, football returns to Folkestone. A day bringing together players, families, friends and the wider Nepalese community.

~~12 September 2026~~
31 October 2026

Saturday

8:30 AM Onwards

FNC Football Tournament 2026 Event Poster

Click poster to view full size

Event Information

Tournament Details

Everything you need to know before tournament day.

Date

Saturday
~~12 September 2026~~
31 October 2026

Start Time

8:30 AM

Onwards

Venue

The Stadium

Football Pitches

CT19 5JU

Location

Folkestone

Organised By

Folkestone Nepalese Community

Registration

Team Registration

Team managers and captains are responsible for ensuring their teams arrive on time and are ready at their designated pitch.

Football Is Back

It has been 12 years since the last FNC football tournament. This year's event is more than a competition. It is a chance for the community to come together, reconnect and celebrate the return of football in Folkestone.

FNC Football Tournament 2026

Team Registration

Complete the official registration form for your team.

FNC Football Tournament 2026

Tournament Rule Book

Official rules and regulations for all participating teams and players. Please read the rules carefully before registering and attending the tournament.

Governing Laws

Except where described below, all matches will be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game laid down by the Football Association Board and published by FIFA.

01 Team Categories, Participation and Entry Fee

Main Teams – Players must be over the age of 18 years.
Veteran Teams – Players must be over the age of 36 years.
Super Veterans Teams – Players must be over the age of 45 years.
All players are entitled to play for only one team and one category.
Entry Fees: Youth – £250; Veterans and Super Veterans – £200.
Registration: Registration must be done via www.fncuk.org/football2026 .

02 Teams and Players

Team Composition

All teams consist of nine players during the match including a goalkeeper on the pitch at any one time.
A maximum of two Non-Nepalese Origin players are allowed on the team.
Five substitutes are allowed in a team, giving a maximum squad size of 9 + 5 = 14 players.

Player Registration

All players MUST be strictly registered on the entry form before the tournament begins.

Players who are not registered will not be allowed to play for a team.

Teams who substitute unregistered players will be automatically disqualified and will no longer participate in the tournament.

Substitutions

Substitution may take place at any time when the ball is out of play. Rolling substitution is allowed.

A player who has been dismissed by the referee for gross misconduct or other reasons cannot be substituted.

Referees are to be informed before substituting players.

03 Players' Identity

ORIGINAL PHOTO ID IS COMPULSORY

All players MUST bring a form of original photo ID including their date of birth (D.O.B.).

Accepted Identification

UK Driving Licence
British Passport
UK Provisional Driving Licence
MOD / British Army ID
Nepalese Passport with a valid date

The player MUST be able to produce an original identification when asked by the organising team, referee or governing body on the day.

Failure to do so will result in the player being disqualified from their team.

The organising committee team will strictly check identification on the day, so players MUST bring their IDs with them.

04 Team Pools

Team pools will be clearly displayed in the Control Tent according to the team draw.
An announcement will be made five minutes before each match.
It is the responsibility of team captains/managers to regularly check their team's game schedule.
Any team turning up five minutes late will have their game forfeited.
Any changes to match timings will be announced.
If a team withdraws from a pool league, their matches will be declared null and void.

05 Match Decisions and Timings

Group Stage

The group stage will be run on a league basis for each category.

3 Points for a Win

1 Point for a Draw

0 Points for a Defeat

Match Duration

Matches will be played for 12.5 minutes each way, with a five-minute half-time interval.

There will be no extra time except for the final.

Knockout Qualification

The winner and runner-up of each group will go through to the knockout stages.

Extra Time

There will be NO EXTRA TIME in:

League matches
Pre-quarter finals
Quarter finals
Semi-finals

Extra time will only be implemented in the final, five minutes each way.

There will be NO OFFSIDE rule in this tournament.

06 Conduct / Discipline – On and Off the Pitch

Team captains/managers are reminded that inappropriate use of language on and off the pitch will not be tolerated.

Anyone displaying unsportsmanlike conduct and disrupting a game may be disqualified.

Red Cards

A player who has been sent off will be suspended for the next following game.

Yellow Cards

Players awarded two yellow cards will miss one game and may be reinstated at the discretion of the Decision Committee.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FIGHTS OR ASSAULTS

Any team or player(s) involved in fights or assaults will be informed to the police, and both teams will be disqualified immediately.

07 Complaints / Disputes / Protest

Referees and Match Officials

The referee will be the sole judge of timings for matches and the decision will always be final.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CHEATING

Protest will be accepted during the tournament. Age protests must be raised before the match starts.

Complaints and Disputes

Complaints and disputes will be handled by the Organising Committee Team.

Team captain/managers are to lodge complaints at the Control Tent.

The organising committee's decision will be final.

08 Players' Kit & Equipment

Player Safety

A player must not use equipment or wear anything dangerous to himself or another player, including jewellery.

Compulsory Equipment

Jersey or shirt
Shorts
Socks
Shin guards
Appropriate footwear

Shin guards must be covered entirely by the socks.

Colour Clashes

Teams are strongly advised to bring a second set of colours in case of a colour clash.

09 Tournament Prizes

All prizes and trophies will be presented after the final games.

Winners

Main: Cup, Cash, Medals and Certificates.

Veteran and Super Veterans: Cash, Medals and Certificates.

Individual Awards

Top Scorer – Trophy
Man of the Match – Trophy
Best Goalkeeper – Trophy

Tournament Cancellation

Should inclement weather prevent the tournament from being held, another date will be scheduled.

10 Alcohol Consumption

PLAYER FITNESS AND SAFETY

All players are strongly advised not to consume any alcohol 24 hours prior to playing.

Individuals found intoxicated or incapable of playing safely will be automatically disqualified.

Good Luck to All the Teams

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the return of FNC football after 12 years.

FNC Football Tournament 2026

Aims & Community

Bringing people together through football, friendship and community.

More Than Football

The tournament is more than a football competition. Its purpose is to bring people of different ages and backgrounds together through sport. It will promote physical activity, health and wellbeing, teamwork, friendship, fair play and positive engagement.

Bringing Communities Together

We currently expect participating teams from Gurkha and Nepalese communities across the UK, including London, the South East and the South West.

The tournament will bring players, families and supporters together with the wider Folkestone community.

Football For All Ages

There will be Youth, Veteran and Super Veteran categories.

Main Main Category

Veteran Veteran Category

Super Super Veteran Category

A Family-Friendly Community Day

Alongside the football tournament, we are planning a welcoming, family-friendly picnic-style community day for players, families, supporters, volunteers and members of the public.

Everyone Is Welcome

Public attendance will be free of charge.